Wildwood Academy, a small alternate school in Hood River, Oregon, contacted the IAFI Columbia River Gorge Chapter with a request for a Gorge Geology presentation for their younger and older student groups. On a couple of days in November, as chapter president, I talked to the two groups from a slideshow covering the last 40+ million years of Columbia River Gorge geology, followed up by short field trips to local sites of geologic interest.
As you might imagine, making an hour-long, semi-technical presentation to school kids can be a daunting experience. But these kids were tuned in, attentive, and incredibly responsive, with questions and comments that were right on target. Of course, their teachers had already touched on many elements of Gorge geology, so the kids said they felt the show’s progression through time helped bring it all together for them. And their energy in the classroom and in the field was a wonder to behold.
The free-ranging atmosphere at this alternate school was eye-opening and exciting, especially for someone who grew up many years ago in a more structured public school atmosphere. But possibly more important is the feeling that the wonder and excitement of learning and experiencing the world around are alive and well in all the generations following my 75 years.
Of special importance to me was a note from one of the parents, “My daughter was one of the kids you spoke to today and she has done nothing but talk about how amazing you were and how she wants to study the Columbia River Gorge area. I have heard nothing else since about 4 o’clock this afternoon!!” It’s a thrill and a real honor to have had that kind of impact.